The name does actually have a meaning: bZ(Beyond Zero emissions) 4 (based on Rav4) X (Crossover)
That said, I wish they had just called it the Rav4 Electric. I believe mass adoption comes from car companies integrating the electric models into what (non-cutting edge) consumers already trust (Chevy is the only one really embracing this idea)
Considering this model was announced before they asked Toyoda to step down for failing in EV adoption, I suspect it was named to not sully the reputation of an established model.
Yeah, but not until 2027 or so it seems, and then you’ll have to drag around an ic engine as well. Seems a bit of a waste for a car with that much battery range.
My dad just bought the bZ4x, I’m not particularly impressed, but that’s just my opinion. My dad likes it, mainly because he wasn’t comfortable using the touch screen while driving to adjust things like windshield wipers etc, which I think is a good decision for him. But what poor marketing department came up with an unpronounceable name like that.
Volt, sounds like a cheap knockoff of Tesla. That was the emotional response I got from it. I imagined that if they could not come up with a more original or cooler name then their car was probably like that too.
I could almost see their reasoning for naming it volt: They figured that the Tesla company used that name because of Nikola Tesla, I guess they decided they too should use another name related to electricity, the volt (cue applause at their brilliance). It seemed very lazy to me.
I didn't say it was strange. I found it amusing that this is what came up during the other person's search for SPARK2014, and yes, thinking it sounded like a suitable electric vehicle name. Chevy called their electric offering Volt, and Volts are in the battery in a gas car too, but I think you get the picture.
my second favorite car was my TDI Beetle Convertible (2013) and I would be more than willing to line up to buy a BEV version of the same. The closest it appears I will get is an Audi TT which may be the first mass production convertible to be available; the Tesla Roadster of past doesn't count.
Their current BEV platform is a good first shot, I am disappointed in the lack of front trunk but I expect they will eventually go that way. The real issue this platform suffers from but should be a software fix is that they don't support auto negotiation with charging stations. Even Ford is able to do so with Electrify America yet VW who backed it cannot.
As for the name change, its fitting provided they quickly move to an all electric fleet. There are some nice variations of the ID.* platform coming and the .Buzz is the neatest of them all in my book. By quickly I mean get there five years before everyone else.
I wish they kept it called a Mach-E, and maybe slipped in a pony somewhere as homage (on top of the obvious styling queues)
That being said, calling it a Mustang Mach-E is going to get the industry, and community, more abuzz than simply calling it a mustang inspired EV called the Mach-E.
Slightly off topic but Porsche came out with an EV and the top trim is called "Turbo S" which lines up with their other gas car naming.
Some people got upset because it doesn't have a turbocharger in it and felt it was wrong to use the word in the name.
Because of turbo buttons on PCs when i was growing up, turbo buttons on 3rd party console controllers, and many other experiences i always associated with just fast, not a specific car part.
The name does actually have a meaning: bZ(Beyond Zero emissions) 4 (based on Rav4) X (Crossover)
That said, I wish they had just called it the Rav4 Electric. I believe mass adoption comes from car companies integrating the electric models into what (non-cutting edge) consumers already trust (Chevy is the only one really embracing this idea)
Considering this model was announced before they asked Toyoda to step down for failing in EV adoption, I suspect it was named to not sully the reputation of an established model.
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